Debonded cellulose fiber pulp sheet and method for producing same

Abstract

A debonded cellulose fiber pulp sheet that is adapted to be fiberized by mechanical action to form a fluffy material and is impregnated with small amounts, such as 1% or less, of a long chain fatty alkyl cationic compound having at least 12 carbon atoms in at least one alkyl chain and a similar small or somewhat larger amount of an oily material such as a mineral, vegetable or animal oil which coacts with the cationic compound to render the pulp sheet easily mechanically fiberizable, and the resulting fiberized fluffy material softer, more lofty and more absorbent and method for producing said sheet.

We claim: 
     
       1. A debonded cellulose fiber pulp sheet that is adapted to be fiberized easily by mechanical action to form a fluffy, lofty and absorbent fibrous material, said sheet being impregnated with an admixture of a long chain fatty alkyl cationic compound having at least 12 carbon atoms in at least one alkyl chain, and a natural non-drying oil which has no adverse effect on the pulp and which per se does not effect debonding of the fibers but coacts with the cationic compound to effect debonding of the fibers of the pulp sheet and thereby render it easily fiberizable. 
     
     
       2. A debonded cellulose fiber pulp sheet as defined in claim 1 and in which the amount of cationic compound is less than 1% and the oil is in an amount greater than 1% of the dry weight of the pulp sheet. 
     
     
       3. A debonded cellulose fiber sheet as defined in claim 1 and in which the cationic compound is a long chain fatty quaternary ammonium compound. 
     
     
       4. A debonded cellulose fiber pulp sheet as defined in claim 1 and in which the oil is a natural non-drying mineral oil. 
     
     
       5. A method of producing an easily fiberizable pulp sheet comprising introducing into the pulp before the sheet is dried, an admixture of a long chain fatty alkyl cationic compound having at least 12 carbon atoms in at least one alkyl chain, and a natural non-drying oil which has no adverse effect on the pulp and which per se does not effect debonding of the fibers but coacts with the cationic compound to effect debonding of the fibers of the pulp sheet and thereby render it easily fiberizable, and then drying the pulp sheet. 
     
     
       6. A method of producing an easily fiberizable pulp sheet as defined in claim 5 and in which the admixture of the cationic compound and oil is introduced into the pulp slurry before formation of the sheet. 
     
     
       7. A method of producing an easily fiberizable pulp sheet as defined in claim 5 and in which the admixture of cationic compound and oil is introduced into the preformed wet pulp sheet before it is dried.